29 November 1957: The third production Boeing B-52A-1-BO Stratofortress strategic bomber, 52-003, was flown from Boeing’s Seattle plant to the North American Aviation facility at Air Force Plant 42, Palmdale, California, to be modified to carry the new X-15 hypersonic research rocketplane.
Modifications began on 4 February 1958. A pylon was mounted under the bomber’s right wing. A large notch was cut into the trailing edge of the inboard flap for the X-15’s vertical fin. A 1,500 gallon (5,678 liter) liquid oxygen tank was installed in the bomb bay.
A station for a launch operator was installed on the upper deck of the B-52 at the former electronic countermeasures position. A series of control panels allowed the panel operator to monitor the X-15’s systems, provide electrical power, and to keep the rocketplane’s liquid oxygen tank full as the LOX boiled off during the climb to launch altitude. The operator could see the X-15 through a plexiglas dome, and there were two television monitors.
After modifications were completed at Palmdale, 52-003 was flown to Edwards Air Force Base, 14 November 1958.
NB-52A 52-003 is on display at the Pima Air and Space Museum, Tucson, Arizona.
© 2016, Bryan R. Swopes
Just watched the movie X-15 last night. It has some great footage of the NB-52 and the X-15 during flight. The story is a little screwy, but still watchable.
Hi Bryan,
To think that we its not even been 120 years since we have gained reasonable control of our travel through the skies!
For all of its triumphs and tragedies, I love how your site pays homage to all, be they great and brave pioneers, right through to the unfortunate participants and witnesses to our most shocking tragedies. Good or bad, I read and learn something new them each day. Thankyou for your effort and devotion.
With that in mind, I’d like to suggest additional article for your Nov28-29 post:
Pilot Officer Rawdon ‘Ron’ Middleton VC, Royal Australian Air Force, Nov 28-29, 1942
These websistes offer a good telling of his tale:
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10676514
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C93755
https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/middleton-rawdon-hume-11118#:~:text=He%20was%20posthumously%20awarded%20the,with%20full%20air%20force%20honours.
https://aviationtrails.wordpress.com/heroic-tales-of-world-war-2/australian-flt-sgt-rawdon-h-middleton-vc-raaf-149-sqn-raf/#:~:text=For%20his%20action%2C%20dedication%20and,before%20his%20sortie%20to%20Turin.
I can also provide the book references:
Strike Hard, Strike Sure, Pg 86-96 (ISBN 9780850529630 / 0850529638)
Victoria Cross – Australias Finest and the Battles They Fought Pg 230 (ISBN 9781740662888 / 1740662881)
Such acts of incredible bravery need to be shared.
Kind Regards
Mike
Thank you very much, Mike. I’ll start working on your suggestion.